Federal Government Approves Pensions for Retired Nigeria Airways Workers After 22 Years

 The Federal Government of Nigeria on July 23, 2025, approved pension payments for over 2,000 retired workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways, ending a 22-year wait since the airline’s liquidation in 2003. 

The decision, announced by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, allocates ₦45 billion to clear arrears and establish a monthly pension scheme, following years of protests and legal battles led by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners. The funds, drawn from the National Pension Commission’s backlog, aim to address a debt estimated at ₦60 billion, though the government acknowledges only partial coverage due to fiscal constraints.

The approval comes after a 2024 audit revealed mismanagement of severance funds, with ₦15 billion unaccounted for during the airline’s closure. Retired workers, many now in their 70s, expressed relief but demanded transparency on disbursement, citing past delays. 

The government frames this as a fulfillment of social obligations, yet critics argue it reflects political timing ahead of 2027, with no clear mechanism to prevent future pension crises in other sectors. The narrative of relief is tempered by skepticism over implementation and the lingering financial burden.